Arsenal endured a difficult start to their Premier League campaign, losing on the opening day at home to Liverpool before salvaging only a single point against struggling Leicester City.
However, they have bounced back, winning back-to-back games in all three competitions they are currently involved in.
They last won the English top-flight title back in 2004, and although they have been close to lifting it again – with the last season being the closest they have come – luck has not always been on their side.
Despite sitting below Manchester City, they now boast a good chance of ending their wait for the title. Here are the three major reasons why the Gunners can win the title this season.
Improved squad depth
In the past few years, Arsenal have always been just a single injury away from collapsing.
However, the depth of the current squad has proved that they could win despite boasting the longest injured players list in the division.
Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Per Mertesacker, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud had all been injured all at once.
In such a scenario, Arsenal should have definitely dropped points given the fact that Jack Wilshere, Calum Chambers and Joel Campbell have all been sent out on loan.
However, they only went on a winning run, highlighting their squad depth.
Granit Xhaka, Shkodran Mustafi and the likes have not only stood in for the injured players but also have won games; producing results during an injury crisis, as we know, has always been a stuff of champions.
Little reliance on Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil registered 19 league assists last season, but only managed to create three assists in the second half of the season.
When his form dipped, Arsenal struggled to claim maximum points.
Although he has been playing a pivotal role, he has not registered an assist so far this season, but Arsenal have learnt to cope well without his assists.
With the creative onus now shared amongst all six attacking players, he is seemingly enjoying his game, offering decisive final touches to the art form his colleagues create.
Success of the new system
Arsene Wenger was widely lambasted for playing Alexis Sanchez as the centre-forward at the start of the campaign, but the return of Alex Iwobi from a strain and Theo Walcott’s revival combined to justify Wenger’s decision to play an unconventional frontline.
Besides producing results that the Arsenal faithful love drooling over, they play the most aesthetically pleasing football in the league, courtesy of the pace and skillset of the personnel.
Arsenal’s new counter-counter-attacking system has so far produced results that should bring the title to the Emirates Stadium trophy cabinet, but they should be immune to the antidote Pep Guardiolas and Ronald Koemans invent to bring the title home.
Written by Praveen Paramasivam
Follow Praveen on Twitter @49Praveen
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